Six Months for Clara

We can't believe Clara is half-way to ONE!
She's a beauty, isn't she?

She's been trying different foods and doing pretty well with it - very excited about sweet potatoes in particular. She loves having frozen watermelon in her mesh feeder.

Leaves a bit of a mess, but oh well.

Mom and Dad are OK, but she LOVES her brother. She watches him all the time and laughs any time he comes close to her. She is especially a fan of his dancing and jumping. It's been so fun to watch them become more aware of each other and even see a bit of a friendship starting to form.

Sometimes, I still can't believe they're mine...so cute!

Not the most flattering shot - it was SO hot this day, but I wanted to show them in the stroller together. It's funny, every so often Adam will just reach over and pat Clara on the head.

She got to have her first big-girl-bath with her brother. Super fun!
"Hmmm...I wonder what this is for."

"Yeah, probably this."

Havin' fun.

Some fun facts:

1.Still loves her paci and putting everything in her mouth. No teeth yet. Sophie is her best friend.
2. She watches everything her brother does and thinks he's hilarious.
3. Has been very receptive to food.
4. Isn't sitting alone yet. She does tuck her legs under herself while on her tummy like she wants to crawl, but hasn't raised to all fours yet like Adam had done by this age. Funny how they develop so differently.

5. She and Adam both love going to the gym with Mama. Adam knows right where to go as soon as we get in the door. When I come pick them up, he "helps" me find Clara so we can go.

Mount Vernon

Phil and the kids took me to Mount Vernon for Mother's Day and it was the most perfect day I could have imagined. It is absolutely gorgeous there - I don't know how Washington ever got anything done! Unfortunately, I left the memory chip out of my camera that day - oops! So no photos. However, my mom and sister were out a few weeks ago, so we went back and this time I got some pictures. We had record heat that day, so it was an abbreviated visit and I definitely had sweat stinging my eyes by the time we got back to the car, but we still got to see quite a bit.

Adam's favorite part is the sheep. Luckily there are many around Washington's estate, so Adam usually occupies himself by running around looking for them.

My sister and a VERY big tree. There are little plaques on many of the trees that say what year Washington himself planted the tree. Gives you an idea of how old they are.

Doesn't this look like a senior portrait?

A shot of the tree looking up. Again, I can't figure out when this one won't turn.

All the buildings and the grounds are so beautiful. This is the green house in the center and slave quarters off to each side.

Some of the gardens.

Usually the front of the mansion is absolutely stunning, and I was so disappointed that they were doing some maintenance work on it! They were giving it a new paint job. Don't worry, they keep it authentic - I'm not sure exactly how this is accomplished, but Washington used a method of painting that makes it look like stone from a distance, and the modern day painters are doing just that to accurately preserve the mansion's look.

View of the mansion from the backyard.

Views of the Potomac from Washington's backyard.

We also went to see Washington's burial site. There is much more to see, though, so we'll probably go back when it is cooler and when my dad is here as well.

On the DL?

Adam must be a lot tougher than all those athletes that get put on the DL. I mean just look at him - and he is still truckin' along just fine.

Adam had his first Real tumble resulting in his first Real injury a couple of weeks ago. He was running, got tripped up and ended up planting his face into the TV stand. I was really worried at first, since it's so close to his eye, but thank God it was just a surface wound. It looks pretty cool, though, huh? I think this is day 2.

These pictures were taken on about day 4 or 5 I think. Some crazy colors on my boy's face.

"Come on, Mom, what's the big deal? I'm fine so stop taking pictures."